Ex-Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker, one of the leading lights of the 1990s Britpop scene, plays the Birmingham Academy as a solo artist on December 2.

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Now 45, Cocker formed Pulp when he was 15 but the band did not enjoy success until the mid-1990s.

A string of acclaimed albums including His ‘n’ Hers, Different Class and This Is Hardcore cemented Pulp’s place among the leading lights of the British alternative scene, alongside Blur and Oasis.

Pulp began a hiatus in 2002, after which Cocker began to appear in other fields including film and television.

He reemerged as a solo artist in 2006 with his debut album. His current tour, ahead of the release of his second offering, sees him provide a unique mix of music and lecture as he discusses the history of indie music label Rough Trade.

Reporting on an earlier date in the tour, Observer reviewer Kitty Empire wrote: “Tonight, with a beard and schoolmaster’s cane, he is at once suave and dodgy, dancing like an amorous praying mantis.

“Occasionally, he lapses into bad cockney, but otherwise he is an amiable idol, sharing his drinks with the crowd, pulling the monitors round when someone in the audience complains the sound is too quiet.”

Here are some highlights of the career of the man popularly known as Jarvis:

1992 – Babies

Pulp became best known for a string of hits in the mid-1990s, including Common People, Disco 2000 and Misshapes.

But this earlier offering is among their finest moments. The lyrics cover familiar Cocker themes – teenage love, voyeurism and bedrooms. It was rereleased in 1994 and became a hit second time around.
<1996 – Cocker invades the Brits stage

Jarvis enjoyed tabloid infamy when he jumped on to the stage at the 1996 Brit awards to mount a unique protest at the live performance by Michael Jackson.The Thriller star had enlisted a gang of kids for his production of Earth Song, which some critics felt portrayed him as a messiah figure.Cocker, who was in the audience, faced potential charges when he interrupted events by appearing at the front of the stage, although action was dropped soon afterwards. Rarely has a man wiggling his bottom caused so much trouble.
2006 – Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time

The video from the standout track from Cocker’s solo debut sees him cast as a taxi driver, offering advice to a young girl who is being messed about by her boyfriend.Oblivious to the road, he sings along and is even joined by a glitterball, which descends from the roof of the cab.